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Smell plays a vital role in our daily lives and influences the way we perceive the world around us. People have the excellent ability to detect and distinguish odors, but they usually have difficulty in identifying individual odors. Olfactory abilities (olfactory identification, olfactory detection and olfactory discrimination) also differ significantly interindividually. In general, however, women achieve better results. While a number of studies point to sex differences in olfactory perception, especially in the identification of odors, we need to understand sex only as an overarching concept that includes specific factors such as hormonal influences or different odor experiences that can actually influence olfactory abilities. One of them could be verbal fluency, which allows us to recall information from memory, as there are studies showing the link between the ability to identify odors and verbal fluency. The main aim of the thesis was to test whether the difference between males and females in the identification of odors is mediated by a sex difference in verbal fluency. The secondary aim of the thesis was to explore whether the connection of odor identification and verbal fluency varies according to which form of verbal fluency is tested (phonetic or semantic), and whether these tests can be...

A Blue-tongued skink ( Tiliqua gigas) is a rare exotic species which is very popular between breeders. Nevertheless, the social structure of this charismatic skink remains almost unknown. Because of its high aggressive- ness and difficulties connected with study in its natural habitat, experiments based on the odor discrimination looks like a good alternative for its bet- ter understanding. Our results revealed that the reaction on the odor is generally poor and is very individual. We observed the highest response of interest on odors produced throught dorsal parts of skin. The reaction on conspecific's odor did not lead to escape behavior. Behavioral analysis was complemented by morphological analysis of heads in T. gigas and T.scincoides. These species are divided into separate subspecies, which are formed by geographically distinct populations. We wondered whether it is possible to separate these populations by geometric morphometrics and whether this separation is consistent with phylogenetic studies. We found out that if the populations are united in bigger groups based on their congeniality they seem to be distinct according to the head shape. Our results also revealed the monomorphy in head shape. Unfortu- nately, it is very difficult to distinguish between sexes due to the absence of sexual dimorphism....

The coexistence of humans and rodents lasts from the beginnings of the history of agriculture. Many rodent populations accepted to synanthropic way of life and as commensals accompany human societies until today. In the first study we wanted to find out, how the evolution of non-commensal rodent species, a Cypriot mouse (Mus cypriacus), was influenced by people. This endemic island species evolved on the Cyprus Island without presence of any mammalian competitors or predators. In last 10.000 years humans arrived on the island, bringing several mammalian species, which affected the environment markedly. A black rat (Rattus rattus) is now dominant species there and presumably it is an important competitor for the Cypriot mouse. We supposed that the mice should avoid its odour. Nevertheless the rats odour was preferred by the mouse, probably as an odour of phylogenetically related species. On the contraty, the odour of domestic cat (species, which is also widespread on the island), was avoided. In conclusion, the long-term isolation from mammalian predators did not affect the antipredatory reactions of the Cypriot mouse. Our next study was focuse on changes in behavioural strategies of different populations of mice: the main question was how the commensal way of life affects their exploratory...

The coexistence of humans and rodents lasts from the beginnings of the history of agriculture. Many rodent populations accepted to synanthropic way of life and as commensals accompany human societies until today. In the first study we wanted to find out, how the evolution of non-commensal rodent species, a Cypriot mouse (Mus cypriacus), was influenced by people. This endemic island species evolved on the Cyprus Island without presence of any mammalian competitors or predators. In last 10.000 years humans arrived on the island, bringing several mammalian species, which affected the environment markedly. A black rat (Rattus rattus) is now dominant species there and presumably it is an important competitor for the Cypriot mouse. We supposed that the mice should avoid its odour. Nevertheless the rats odour was preferred by the mouse, probably as an odour of phylogenetically related species. On the contraty, the odour of domestic cat (species, which is also widespread on the island), was avoided. In conclusion, the long-term isolation from mammalian predators did not affect the antipredatory reactions of the Cypriot mouse. Our next study was focuse on changes in behavioural strategies of different populations of mice: the main question was how the commensal way of life affects their exploratory...

The one of the dog use scope is explosive substances and booby traps searching. At present, when very often terrorist attacks or threats appear this usage is more and more often. To use the dog for this purpose means the dog has to be trained by means of complex training. In my thesis I have described the basic dog training and another training focused to special activities as the searching of explosive materials and mines is. I did not describe the all dogs basic exercises which the dog must handle safely because this theme is very extensive but only such excercise which I consider as important for explosive materials searching in practises. I have used available literature about dogs training and excercise, expert editorials and guidelines, my own experience with police dogs training and skilled knowledge from workshops and seminar meetings. I have created complex overview the dog preparing and the way of dog training for this special use. I have compared some methods for dogs training and way of excercise used in USA. By means of dogs special training and by means of their use we prevent extraordinary events and we preserve the human life doubtless. The thesis corresponds with another authors similar theses.

Major Urinary Proteins (MUP) are pheromonal transmitters involved in chemical communication in rodents. Complexes of MUPs and ligands mediate information about genetical background of an individual and co-create individual scent profile. They play a significant role in kinship determination, the crucial factor in the choice of a mating partner. It is assumed that the MUP production is energetically demanding due to the pressure of sexual selection, and the transmitted signal is thus supposed to be honest. This theory hasn't yet been experimentally tested, neither was proven the effect of another intense selection pressure- a parasitic infection. In my thesis, I describe the effect of an infection of a parasite Toxoplasma gondii on MUP production. The results suggest that the production is altered in both sexes, the production decreasing in males to the level of male castrates (or the female level). Considering the results of more detailed analysis of the infection we assume that the energetical demands of the MUP production doesn't allow the production of ordinary amounts if MUPs during the first phase of the infection as the energy is primarily devoted to the infection control. The increased production in latter phase can be attributed to the importance of scent communication. Decreased levels of...

This thesis is focused on habitat preferences of carnivores in fragmented landscape. By using the scent station method, fine-scale utilization of forest-farm edges by mammalian predators in dependence on patch size was examined. Preferences for edge structures was detected and these structures were equally utilized by carnivores in large as well as in small forest fragments. This shows that edge effect was present in all fragments regardless the patch size.